How McCain can trump Obama's convention address and change the course of the presidential race

Anthony

Sounds pretty good to me. In order to win, McCain needs to start hoovering up independents and this is probably as good a way to do it as any. Frankly, this is only magnified by the fact that he's not just Not As Good As Obama when it comes to the old speecheroo - he's really just plain not very good at it.

THX1138

Well he had better do something to stay in the race

This is a great blog to follow the polling action on

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

TGF UKIP

Like it James and hope the McCain campaign take it up. The major snag that I can see, though, is the dependency on the presentation by the Obama besotted major networks.

I think McCain needs starts to including in his every speech a jocular reference to the full gamut of his opponents.

The media won't like having their tails pulled but Old John's got nowt to lose.

Craig Strachan

Yes, a very solid idea. McCain needs to do something bold to change the dynamic of the race.

Water

Obama knows what a town hall engagement bodes for him, a lack of loop holes. With this in light, after considerable delay (and time to prepare) Obama may lock horns. Though, was such a scenario to occur, in the manner detailed, it wouldn’t be instantaneous and altogether tantamount to party (or candidate) ‘behavioural time delay bodily rhetoric’ and thus indicative of a degree of inadequacy for the Democratic representative. For without an agenda being flagged up before a meeting, it seems unlikely Obama would agree to attend (let alone give a straight answer during) such an event were it to arise in a fashion contrary to this.

Verity

Chills of embarrassment while James Forsyth gives the Republican Party machine some carefully considered advice. "To be sure, this is a risky strategy."

I'm sure they'll consider your risky strategy, and your many years of fundraising for schoolboards, local sheriffs, police chiefs, mayors, city councillors, state senators, a state governor or two.

God! Will you never learn? You have nothing to teach Americans.

Water

"Yes, a very solid idea" yes very much agreed.

THX1138

You are all wrong about McCains so called advantage at town-halls a friend from the school playground is from Chicago & she told me that Obama's town-halls around Illinois as a senator are very well attended & that he was a great performer, completely natural & straight talking. Next

Water

Maybe so, but I still like this idea and I'm going to have to stick with James and McQuaid and his opinion in seeming contention. A Bill Clinton style scenario would be the end to some doubts.

Craig Strachan

"Yes, a very solid idea" was my first reaction. Now I'm starting to wonder, as I recall what Bill Kristol said on Fox News Sunday - basically that McCain was being "diminished" by his own campaign, ie he's doing a lot of small scale events, while Obama does big ones and gets to look all presidential.

Water

I'm still going with the first opinion, "look" seems to be the imperative word.

John

Verity, why do you bother to read this if you think that he is not as clever as a your nephew the orthodontist?

I like it. It would expose the difference between the candidates: one a complete an utter charlatan, one not.

THX1138

John-Re I like it. It would expose the difference between the candidates: one a complete an utter charlatan, one not.

Which is the complete an utter charlatan? I assume you mean Obama is the charlatan as your posting on the Coffee House

Well I'm going to go with Verity on this one

"God! Will you never learn? You have nothing to teach Americans."

Yes absolutely & Americans according to the polls want Obama as their President & to think that majority of Americans have been hoodwinked by this "complete an utter charlatan" is the worst kind of European patronizing guff.

We have nothing to "teach Americans" they know the effectiveness & character of their candidates & they will elect Obama & I will cheer them on all the way.

Water

I’m most hesitant in calling either of them a charlatan, and I wouldn’t call Mc Cain one now, but I do, of late, begin to exercise a degree of sympathy towards such inclinations when, in light of Obama. This aside the movement to off centre would provide high ground for Mc Cain purposes, were such a meeting deemed on play or simply by a course of perusal channelled through media resources. Ultimately it provides ample opportunity for highlighting the fact that he held certain policies with regards to the berry like thoughts that a bushes can provide, which have been unduly popularized.

Verity

My nephew the orthodontist? What fresh madness is this? Are you raving? Not only do I not get the point of your phantom orthodontist, but I cannot figure out which candidate you are talking about.

Unquestionably, Mr Charisma will do well in Chicago! He's part of the foul, institutionally corrupt Chicago Democratic machine. There is no way he could possibly do badly there, especially given the voting loyalty of all the registered Democrats in the cemetaries.

Verity

"Verity, why do you bother to read this if you think that he is not as clever as a your nephew the orthodontist?"

I think I've figured out John's untethered remark above. He thinks I'm American and Jewish. As in the mythical Jewish matron who refers to "My son-in-law the surgeon."

Two rather large (incorrect) assumptions to make about a person you've never met and on no evidence whatsoever.